BLM hosts meeting on oil and gas regulations

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BLM hosts meeting on oil and gas regulations

Citizens, officials consider need for new regulations
BLM officials Connie Clementson and Ryan Joiner explain a proposed master lease plan for oil and gas development in Montezuma and La Plata counties in November.

BLM hosts meeting on oil and gas regulations

BLM officials Connie Clementson and Ryan Joiner explain a proposed master lease plan for oil and gas development in Montezuma and La Plata counties in November.
Support heard for energy regulations

Mancos — During the public comment session on a proposed master leasing plan for oil-and-gas regulation, more than a dozen citizens voiced support for the plan.
Here are some excerpts.
MB McAfee: “Experts predict that the gas shale play will re-emerge when oil prices rise and the technology to deal with salinity is solved. Therefore the boundaries of the MLP should include the area of the Gothic shale gas play.”
Ellen Foster: “The BLM should establish a buffer zone around McPhee Reservoir and all reservoirs where drilling, seismic activities and waste water disposal wells are prohibited.”
Betty Ann Kohlner: “An MLP with teeth can give the community the chance to control where we want industry presence. That way those of us who live here know what is ahead and have an MLP plan we have all created together.”
Katie Kopenhaffer: “A master leasing plan is a way to ensure that our recreational resources are protected. Phils World mountain biking is a huge draw to our area. With smart planning we can avoid conflicts with future oil and gas development, and not detract from the recreation user experience.”
Bruce Short: “Cedar Mesa Ranches HOA is in favor of it. We are concerned about property value reductions for residences near drilling well operations. Also our roads are maintained by the subdivision and are not designed for heavy truck traffic. We are concerned that we would be stuck with the cost of maintenance.”
Dennis Stiles: “Of particular concern to myself and my neighbors is the added construction traffic on dirt roads and excavations. We feel that dust mitigation must be implemented and strictly enforced. Also all pipelines need to be buried for safety.”
Kelly PettyJohn: “We have a strong agricultural community dependent on clean water. Increase in oil-and-gas production could degrade water quality conditions. Our arid climate has limited water. The millions of gallons of water is needed to drill one well and is more than our basin can handle.”